Two Exeter School junior pupils in uniform laughing together with their arms around each other outside the school building.

Junior Reflections Week 5 October 2025

Week 5 - 10 October 2025

Dear parents,

We have reached the penultimate week before we break up for half term, and it really feels that autumn has arrived. I would like to thank you for ensuring that items of clothing are named; we are currently seeing a rather large amount of lost property and when items are named, they have a higher chance of being reunited with their owners.

Assemblies

I had the delight of spending the morning over at pre-prep on Tuesday, where I led an assembly about harvest festival and I was joined by my rather naughty friend Jim (aka puppet). A lot of hilarity followed where Jim taught the pupils how to behave and the importance of consent. It is such a tonic to visit all the little people; I could write a book with some of the things that they come up with, and it certainly brightens my day. Our assemblies this week in the junior school focused on age-appropriate online usage for the lower school, and Rules of Law for the upper school. Assemblies are integral to our school day; an opportunity for pupil engagement, messages to be delivered and if pre-prep was anything to go by, a lot of laughter.

This week’s house lunches and assemblies were a great success, offering a fantastic opportunity for the children to get to know each other a little better across year groups. During the assemblies, each house began sharing ideas for creative designs for their unique house shields. This is an exciting time as the houses have the opportunity to decide what symbol they would like to represent them. These will eventually be printed and displayed in the junior school. If your child is continuing to work on their design at home, all instructions are available on Teams. We are looking forward to seeing what the pupils come up with.

Scholarships

A quick reminder that scholarship applications are now open for pupils currently in Upper Two (Year 6), Fourth Form (Year 8) and Upper Fifth (Year 11), with deadlines approaching soon. Please see the school website where you can watch our video presentation or contact admissions@exeterschool.org.uk for further details.

Coming up

The final week before half term is nearly upon us and in true Exeter Junior School style, we don’t slow down, with a taster day for pre-prep, an ‘experience afternoon’ in the senior school for the Upper Two and their parents, comets club visiting the Van Gogh exhibition (I sensibly volunteered to drive the minibus for this one) and some IAPS girls hockey to name but a few.

Have a restful weekend and I look forward to seeing you next week.

Mrs Saskia van Schalkwyk

Playground person of the week

George H U2T

Do you have a story or pupil achievement to share with our community?

If you have a couple of lines of information and a photograph that you and your child are happy to be shared we will try to post these at relevant times through the year.
Email our communications team
Huge congratulations to Isobel, who has been appointed as an HM Lord Lieutenant Cadet for Devon for 2026–27! 🎉

Dr Adrian Rainbow and Dr Smale were delighted to attend the awards ceremony to see Isobel receive this amazing honour.

Over the coming year, she will attend official ceremonies and accompany the Lord Lieutenant to events around the county.

Isobel was nominated for her outstanding work and mature approach within our Combined Cadet Force (CCF), and she will be an excellent representative for the CCF across Devon. 🎖️

Achievements like this never go unnoticed at Exeter School. They reflect real hard work and dedication, and we are so proud to celebrate our pupils. 👏

#ExeterSchool #IndependentSchool #Devon #CCF #Cadet #Achievement #HMLordLieutenantCadet #Success #Achievement #InspireAndChallenege

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Congratulations to Alex F (Upper Sixth), who has been awarded a Commendation in the @johnlockeinstitute Global Essay Prize in Economics, one of the world's most prestigious academic essay competitions.

The prize attracts more than 7,000 entries from over 100 countries, with submissions judged by a distinguished panel of senior academics led by the Institute's Chairman of Examiners. A Commendation places Alex's work within approximately the top 10% of entries worldwide.

Alex's essay explored the question: "Should we fear a cashless society?" She undertook extensive independent research, engaging with cutting-edge economic studies on declining cash usage and the growth of digital payment systems. Her essay demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of economic concepts and an impressive ability to evaluate contemporary research and apply it to a highly relevant policy debate.

This international recognition reflects Alex's intellectual curiosity, academic rigour and commitment to learning beyond the classroom. An outstanding accomplishment. Congratulations, Alex!

#ExeterSchool #JohnLockeInstitute #EssayPrize #Economics #SixthForm #AcademicExcellence #Devon #SupportForLifeBeyondSchool #RealWorldReady 

@talkeducation @goodschoolsguide @muddystilettosschools

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We are hiring! 🧪✨

Exeter School is looking for an inspirational Teacher of Chemistry to join our thriving department on a part-time, fixed-term basis (Monday, Thursday and Friday until 31 December 2026).

Teaching spans Year 6 at Exeter Junior School through to A Level, where chemistry is a very popular choice, with around 50 pupils across the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth.

Newly qualified or experienced, we’d love to hear from you! 

📅 Closing date: 9am, Monday 19 October 2026 (we may close early if an appointment is made, so don’t wait!)

#ExeterSchool #IndependentSchool #Devon #JobAlert #ChemistryTeacher #Science #Education #Career

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15A vs Ivybridge - 9 October 2025

Hockey 1st XI vs Blundell's - 9 Oct 2025

Rugby vs Sherborne and TBGS - 8 October 2025

Scholars' Concert and Cream Tea 2025

Exonian Quiz - 3 Oct 2025

Lower Two residential 2025

U6 Biology trip to Nettlecombe 2025

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Huge congratulations to Isobel, who has been appointed as an HM Lord Lieutenant Cadet for Devon for 2026–27! 🎉

Dr Adrian Rainbow and Dr Smale were delighted to attend the awards ceremony to see Isobel receive this amazing honour.

Over the coming year, she will attend official ceremonies and accompany the Lord Lieutenant to events around the county.

Isobel was nominated for her outstanding work and mature approach within our Combined Cadet Force (CCF), and she will be an excellent representative for the CCF across Devon. 🎖️

Achievements like this never go unnoticed at Exeter School. They reflect real hard work and dedication, and we are so proud to celebrate our pupils. 👏

#ExeterSchool #IndependentSchool #Devon #CCF #Cadet #Achievement #HMLordLieutenantCadet #Success #Achievement #InspireAndChallenege
SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING 5 NOVEMBER